PRT Headquarters and a Denver Nightclub
Earl glanced up from his computer screen to survey the lobby that had changed, unsurprisingly, very little since the last five minutes. There was a large women without an appointment who had tried to talk to the Director. Earl'd told her that he'd tell her if there was an opening. There wouldn't be of course, not this late and not for someone like her. Not that she'd let him talk enough to communicate that. Too many overbearing people showed up here with plenty of posturing and yelling but that didn't change the rules. Another women was quite the opposite, sitting quietly and looking down at some papers in her lap and occasionally glancing up at him. Eh if she wanted something she could ask for it. The security guard was as stoic as ever his face impossible to see under his helmet, if not for the occasional movement of his head to change his field of view one might take the man for a statue. His job must be even worse than Earl's, nothing had ever happened in the whole time he'd worked here that would require any sort of security, though he could understand the reasons for it. Earl's gaze returned to his computer.
James waved away the business card, before moving his hand to his glass. He raised it in a mock toast, and said
"I changed my mind actually. I appreciate the offer but I decided to go a different route." He downed the rest of his drink, and set the glass on the table. He focused on the PHQ, a corner of the room people he didn't normally see anyone standing in, and his power cautioned. It would leave him breathless, but he wasn't worried. James pushed past the warning, and the darkness surrounded him.
This was the first time in about a week he was gone from reality this long. Normally he was out for a fraction of a second, or a second at most. James didn't bother counting, but instead let the plan form. Something simple to get their attention, while also not leaving any stragglers to remember his face. He knew the mob and sometimes they didn't even play by
those rules, though Lance was a different breed all together.
All at once the world reformed around him, the modern minimalistic style of PHQ laid out in front of him. To his right was a woman with a haircut that screamed she wanted to speak to the manager. A little ways away on his left was a security guard, and between James and the guard was a receptionist. The final person in the room was staring at some papers, though her eyes locked onto his once he appeared. It was a bit late, he had already queued the next set of teleports that would remove everyone from this room but the receptionists. fractions of a second would pass between each one, and this time do minimal damage. Darkness, the real world, darkness again and so on three times in total.
He ended his teleports standing in front of the receptionist, his breathing labored.
"If it's. . . Alright with. . . You, I'd like to. . . Turn myself in" He said between gasps for air.
"They call me Jaunt" He said quickly, trying his best to get the word out before he needed more air. He could feel a bit of blood pressed against his pants in the ankle area, his legs burning. Sometimes his power damaged his body very directly, sometimes it was more abstract.
Earl once again glanced up as the security guard actually moved his entire body for once, upon looking at the source of this newfound energy from the normally statue-esque guard Earl saw nothing, although perhaps that was the problem. The manager women had vanished, upon looking back at the guard in confusion he had vanished as well. With another bewildered glance the women who'd been staring at her papers was gone as well and Earl the sole person left in the lobby. Oh wait there was a tall, rather muscular, and frankly rather aggressively looking black man standing there. When had he gotten there? Earl's hand creeped its way towards a button under the counter to alert the entire building of an intruder but paused when the individual in front of him explained that he wanted to turn himself in. He appeared rather strained. Earl raised an eyebrow. "Very well sir but I'll need a little more to go on then that". He spent a few moments on his computer and several sheets of paper came out of a printer next to Early, which he placed on the counter in front of him along with a pen. "If you can just fill out the appropriate forms I'll get someone to help you as soon as possible." Well that wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. At least he had a cool work story now.
A sigh escaped his lips, though it might've been hard to differentiate between that and his already his labored breathing. He took a couple deep breaths, calming himself a bit before responding.
"The entire point of me removing those people was to make sure none of my past employers found out my civilian identity. To that end, I'd rather fill out this paperwork in an interrogation room. Do you have an open one, or would you rather I use my power to find out?" His voice was steady now, though he sounded a bit worried. James had immediately picked the pen off the receptionist's desk and started spinning it. It was a good way to pass the time and also helped calm his nerves.
"Hm I suppose I can check." Earl knew they had one open. In fact he was pretty dang positive that they were ALL open but that wasn't really important. A few more efficient clicks told him all he needed to know. "Yes looks like we have one open. Go down the hallways, take a left turn and enter the first door you see. I'll getting someone to see you and help you with anything else you need shortly. Do you have a preference for who comes to assist you?"
The moment Earl had said which room was open James had focused on the spot and disappeared. He appeared in the corner of the room, the various papers and pen in his hands. He hadn't heard the end of the sentence, and was too tense to stay long enough to stay. He set the papers and pen down as the guard returned to the lobby, his gun drawn, and a radio in hand. James sat down at the table, setting the papers and pen down, and rolling up his pant leg to inspect the damage.
It was a small cut, with extensive bruising, the wound looking as if it had opened underneath the skin before touching air. A cut that would be near impossible to make with a normal weapon. It was a superficial injury, nothing to be concentered about really, but it stung. James rolled his pant-leg back down, and began filling out the paperwork.
Surprisingly Jaunt was not overwhelmed by angry looking guards spraying him with containment foam. Instead a rather friendly looking older man came opened the door and came in, adjusting his glasses as he sat down and beamed at Jaunt.
"Hello Jaunt, I'm Jackson. I hear you're trying to turn yourself in. I'd ask for what but that's not really too important. You'll need to be contained while we sort you out. You seem to have some ability to teleport but we can arrange something for that. Given you've chosen to turn yourself in you'll get some leniency depending on what exactly we're talking about. Oh and we can get something for your leg if you wish as well."A few seconds passed as Jaunt thought to himself, though he nodded at the comment about his leg.
"I'm willing to offer information on all of my alleged (and some unalleged) criminal undertakings over the last few months. Which groups could've hired me, how I would've involved in each plan, and the end goal as would've understood it, I'll be able to corroborate any information I provide with details not provided to the public about each event.
"In truth my goal here is a sort of paradigm shift, and so what I expect in return is a spot on the local Protectorate, and no jail time for my crimes. I don't particularly mind community service or any not too exuberant fines to pay back what I 'stole.' I understand you'll have to talk to your superiors, but I'll be here until you have a response."Jackson nodded along with Jaunt's explanation.
"While I'm not qualified to assure you that your demands are met, from the sounds of things I believe we can work something out that should be reasonable to both parties. As long as cooperate as you've indicated... it's rather late. Tomorrow I could get some more important to talk with you and get things settled. Of course I'd ask you to stay here for the night as a show of good faith, we have reasonable enough accommodations. Is that acceptable to you?" Jaunt nodded before Jackson had finished talking, a smile lighting up his face.
"Sounds wonderful. I'm probably going to need a change of clothes for the morning, but I'm sure that won't be an issue. My motorcycle is at a bar about four miles from here. If you could get that towed to my place of residence I would greatly appreciate it. Other than that, I'm happy to stay here overnight."Jackson gave Jaunt a grin in return,
"Good, good, then if you'll just follow me..."